15 Douglas County High School Students Are “Career Bound” After Completing Professional Skills Boot

Douglas County, NV – Joshua Salie, a Douglas High School 11th grader, was ready for his interview with a local manufacturer. “I’m so glad I went to boot camp first so I would know what to say and do,” he said. Salie, along with 14 other Douglas High and Aspire Academy attended a two-day Professional Skills Boot Camp hosted by Career Bound NV (CBNV), a division of JOIN Inc., on Aug. 6 and 7.

Salie is part of a Douglas County School District career development pilot program through JOIN Inc.’s new Career Bound NV division. The program prepares high school students to interview, be hired by local businesses and, once on-the-job, gain critical employability skills guided by professional mentors.

Career Bound NV’s goal is to connect talented, motivated young people with local businesses through paid work experiences that will launch them on a career pathway to a high-skill, high-demand, living wage job after graduation.

Dr. Somer Lyons and Dr. Amanda Brewer, owners of Valley Eyecare and Eyewear Gallery, were one of the first employers to sign on to the program, hiring their first intern in July.

“The Career Bound NV program allows us to engage with students who are interested in entering our profession to see what unique skills they bring and what skills they may need to develop,” said Dr. Lyons. “The process will help us get better at finding and training new team members.”

The Career Bound NV program requires students to apply, meet minimum qualifications and complete a rigorous two-day boot camp that focuses on developing professional skills needed for career success.

Douglas County Economic Vitality Manager, Lisa Granahan, welcomed students to the inaugural event. “After two years of planning, I am so excited you are here,” she said. “Career Bound NV is a unique opportunity for both you and the employer to benefit. You get work experience, mentorship and a paycheck while the employer expands their workforce with young, local talent.”

During the two-day boot camp, sponsored by the Hop and Mae Adams Foundation, students heard from business professionals about expected on-the-job behaviors; practiced professional communication, conflict resolution and interview skills; and completed the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), which certifies essential work skills needed for job success.

As the boot camp came to an end, students earned a certificate of completion indicating they are ready to interview for paid positions. Arturo Garzon, Constituent Service Representative for Congressman Mark Amodei, also presented each student with a recognition letter from the Congressman, commenting, “I wish my son had completed a program like this before he graduated from high school.”

For more information on why work-based learning is crucial and how Career Bound NV works, please visit https://www.join.org/cbnv